Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has admitted that signing Sergio Ramos was a “mistake” by the club and he accepts the responsibility.
The talismanic central defender joined Les Parisiens last summer as a free agent after ending his 16-year association with Real Madrid, whom he became an emblematic captain.
Yet things have gone wrong for Ramos since making the switch with suggestions that the French club could even go as far as terminating the player’s contract.
Ramos has been involved in just five first-team appearances for the club and only three starts with his season in Paris ruined by multiple injury problems.
The veteran defender has not been in a matchday squad for Mauricio Pochettino’s squad since January and there are fears he may not feature again this campaign.
Have Your Say! Can Ramos revive his career at PSG? Tell us what you think here.
Ramos played just four times for Real Madrid in 2021 in the six months prior to his exit, meaning he has not yet hit double figures in first-team appearances since the end of 2020.
In part, the defender’s lack of game-time in his final months in the Spanish capital accelerated his exit with the club unwilling to commit financially to a player of his age with physical issues.
Now aged 35, Ramos signed a two-year contract at PSG last summer but has been unable to play more than a bit-part role at the club this campaign.
PSG’s sporting director Leonardo has now admitted that the acquisition of the Spanish defender was an error.
Leonardo told L’Equipe : "We signed him and he was physically fine. But as of today, he has only played five games.
"Unfortunately, what we imagined of him at our club did not happen. It is difficult for him, for everyone.
"Not playing makes it difficult for him to be a leader. We will wait before drawing conclusions, the season is not over.
"But I am not afraid to take responsibility for mistakes when I make them.
"Nasser gives me total confidence. It gives me real autonomy and for that I thank the club."
Ramos has managed to complete just two full 90 minutes for Les Parisiens, with one of his three starts for the club seeing him hauled off at half-time due to injury concerns.
He has been involved in just four Ligue 1 matches for the club and has not featured at all in the Champions League for Pochettino’s side.
The talismanic defender won an astonishing 22 trophies during his time at Los Blancos including five La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies, scoring a remarkable 101 goals in that timeframe.
However his continual injury setbacks have derailed him over the past 12 months and he may find it difficult to replicate his success in Paris.
